Yesterday, 22 December, the 40th GAES Christmas Race came to an end in the Bay of Palamós, Spain with an astonishing day with Garbí south-west wind around 11 knots increasing up to 22 knots.

Regardless, an emphatic win from Italy's Simon Sivitz Kosuta/Jas Farneti was launched with a win in race 1, backed up by two more wins across the 5 races. The former 470 Junior World and Junior European Champions put on a stellar performance, up against much of the cream of Europe's young 470 talent, whilst many of the big name Rio 2016 Olympic Campaigners were competing on Olympic waters at Copa de Brasil.

Second to Spain's Rayco Tabares/Alfredo Gonzalez, with Jose Manuel Ruiz/Fernando Davila in third. An impressive result for Ruiz/Davila who are still relative newcomers to the 470 Class, having transitioned from the 420 Class after winning the 2014 420 World Championships.

In the 470 Women, Germany's Annika Bochmann/Marlene Steinherr won the series with a 2 point margin over Angela Pumariega/Patricia Cantero (ESP), with Marina Gallego/Fatima Reyes (ESP) in third. Spain has now qualified to the 470 Women event at the 2016 Olympic Games, as no Oceanic nation qualified at the Oceanic Olympic Qualification Event at Sail Melbourne, the nation slot was awarded to the next unqualified nation based on the results from the 2015 470 Worlds. Both these two teams, along with others, are well in the battle for Olympic selection to fly the flag for Spain in Rio next year.